Chinese Loan Words. Li Language Study

This paper focuses on the loan words of Li language from Chinese language with the goal of confirming loan words of Li language, their historical stratums and nature. The purposes of this study are as follows: firstly, evolution of the Li language could be analyzed through phonetic features of its loan words of different ages; secondly, this study lays the foundation to solve the problems of differentiation of cognates and ancient load words; thirdly, this study would be of help to understand the historical stages of these Li language-speaking regions and characteristics of Chinese and other ethnic languages, so that history of these regions and Chinese dialects could be studied; finally, the study provides a valuable reference information for the language contact theory.The paper consists of four chapters. The first chapter introduces the definition and categories of loan words, reasons for this topic, literature review, research methods and the structure of this paper. The second chapter describes the Li language and Chinese language in Li community. As the main part, the third chapter divides Chinese loan words in the Li language into 2 stages: load words in acient times, and those in the period from mid-acient to modern times. The former were from standard language of modern han nationality, while the latter derived from Southern Fujian Min loan words and Cantonese. This study excludes intervention of loads words and cognates for the comparison study of Kam-Tai language and provides evidence for the contact of the Han and Li people by way of liguistics. The fourth chapter conducts meaning class analysis of Chinese loads words in the Li language.History of Chinese loan words in the Li language could be studied through the following 3 steps:1. Phonetic correspondence should be defined as the foundation for the selection of loan words and determination of historial strata. Reference could be any related language (Southern Fujian Min loan words and Cantonese in this study) and constructed phonetic system (acient, mid-acient and modern Han language).2. Loan words should be found out as many as possible on the basis of detailed materials.3. Levels of phonetic difference and sound correspondences can be determined so that historical strate can be settle.